Fire-protection signal system.



PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906.

J. E. SHEPHERD. FIRE PROTECTION SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED APB.25, 1904.

JOHN E. SHEPHERD, oncmcAeo, ILLINOIS; HIRE-PROTECTION SIGNAL. SYSTEM.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, JOHN.E..,SHEPHERD, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Fire-Protection Signal Systems; and I hereby declare that the fol lowing is a full, clear, and exact description f gization thereof, reference bein had to the accompanying drawings, which orm partof this specification.

My invention relates to fire-protection signal systems, and has for one -o its objects to provide in conjunction with a fire-extin guishersystem an alarm system arranged and adapted to cause thetransmission of signals to a supervising stationu 'on the occur-' rence of various troubles in t e system and upon the occurrenceoffire and consequent commencement of activity in the extinguisher system to Send a series of signals in predetermined sequence to the supervising station.

A further object of my invention is'to'provide such an alarm system wherein the sequential signals transmitted will be distinguishable one from another. i i

Another object of my invention is to provide such a system ada ted for central enerand which wil be .under "constant test. Other and further objects of my invention will become apparent fromthe following description. p ,ji In the drawings I have indicated'in Figure 1 one common system of fire-extinguishing apparatus equi ped with a signal system in accordance wit my-invention. In Fig. 2 I- have illustrated theembodiment-ofa signal system in con'unction with another form of fire-extinguis er system sometimes eIi1- ployed inaccordance with my invention.

, Throughout thedrawin s like characters of reference refer'alwa s to ike parts Referring now to ig. 1, A indicates a riser of a fire-extinguisher system arranged to supply the Lsfiginkler branch pipe a u on whic the spr' ler-heads are arrange B indicates a means for supplying water to the pipe A, such means comprising a pressure-tank adapted to contain water under pneumatic or other pressure connected by a pipe I) with a vertical pipe 1), arranged to communicate with the riser A through a connecting-pipe b A secondary means or. suppl "ing water to the pipe A is also provided, suc means bein the gravity supply-tank'C, usually mounte at an elevation, generally above the roof of- Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed A ril 25,1904; Serial No 204,777.

Patented seat. 4, 1906.

the building, and connected by a pipe '0, hav

ing therein a check-valve c with the vertical .The devices described are parts of a wellknown fire-extinguisher system. In practice the sprinklerpi system may be either kept full of air, W ich balances the water-' pressure, or the pipes may be filled with'water ready for instant use but in either event.

the-blowing ofa sprinkler-head in the pipe a causes an instantaneous reduction of pressure in the riser A, and the fluid in the riser A changes from its passive condition of rest into one of activity. Followingupon the reduction of sure-tank B ecomes active and commences to discharge its water intothe piping system.

ously, as a matter of practice a pressurere- 7 pressure in the pipe A the "prescording instrument associated with the pipe A will instantlyrecord the drop of pressure therein and a subsequent restoration of pressure, while the reduction of air-pressure in the tank B is slow and is not noticeable until after the indication thereof .in the piping A.

I will for brevity, therefore, refer; to the period of activity of the pressure-tank as com--' mencing subse uently to the commencement of activity in t is pipeA. The gravity-tank C in a system such asthatdescri ed does not begin to supply water to the pipingsystem until'after the pressure in the tank B is reduced so that. the check-valve a ma unseat, and therefore the commencement 0 activity in the secondary supply means or gravitytank 0 is subsequent to the commencement of activity inthe primary supply means or tank B. I associate with each of the pipes A the primary means of supply-B and the secondary means of supply a meansfor indicatin the commencement of activity therein. associated with the ipe A is a pressure.- indicator 5, having a ban 6 adapted to sweep over in contact with metallic segment7, indieating a normal range of pressure VfillatlOIl' 'in the pipe A. Associated with the tank B is remaining pole of the battery 13.- A shunt is provided around themagnet 21 by wire 27,

. 4 with which the hand 6 'norm'ally contacts, ex-

- tends a wire 28, connected to the hand 9 of i but I desire it to be understood that I do not normal range and in 'so doing breaks contact with its segment 7. Consequently the shuntr system a signal system, shown as comprising signal-transmitting devices controlled by said indicating means, signal-responsive devices at the supervisory station, suitable .circuit connections between said signal-trans-. mitting and signal-res onsive devices, and means for supplying e ectric energy in said circuit connections.

I'have herein shown a particular system of electrical connection of the various devices;

limit myself thereto as to the broader features of my invention.

In the drawings, 13 indicates acen'tral battery, 14 a signal-receiving instrument, 15 a mechanically-tripped signal-transmittin'ginstrument or, box, and 17 an electricallytripped signaling apparatus. I The apparatus 17 includes a box roper, 18,normally set and associated with t e armature 20 of the electroma et 21 in anysuitable manner, tobe trippe and subsequently stopped by the movement of the armature 20 in either direc-,

- tion, The parts may be connected in circuit as'follows: rom onepole of battery 13- extends a wire 22 to a terminal of the receiving instrument 14,from the other-terminalwhereof extends 'a wire 23, connected to one terminal of the transmitting-box 15; :Fromthe opposite terminal of the transmitting-box extends a wire 24, connected with-one terminal of the signal-transmitting box 18, the opposit'e terminal of which is connected by wire 25 with one terminal of magnet 21, whose circuit releases the armature.

other terminal is connected by wire 26 to the connected to the wire 26,- and thence extend-f ing to-the hand 6 of the pressure lindicator 5, located in the pipe A. From the segment 7,

the indicator 8, associated with the pressure- .tank'B, while from the segment 10 of said gage or indicator extends'a wire 29, connected to the wire-24 of the main circuit. It will thus be seen that a normally closed shunt is providedaroundthe magnet 21, which as long as the gages 5 and, 8 show normal pressure -does attract itsarmatHre to trip the .box 18,

and upon the subsequent closure of the shunt- I preferably associate with the tank 0 a thermometer 30,

' provided with a temperature-indicating hand 32, arranged to sweep over and in electrical contact with a scale-segment 31, which corresponds with a range of temperature from some temperature above freezing to. some tempera ture below'the boiling-point of water. This arrangement is preferably included directly 1n the wire 24, so that current flowing over gage 5 moves to indicate a re'ssure belowthe circuit around the magnet 21 of'the electrically-actuated box 18 is broken and the armature 20 of the magnet attracted to trip the box '18. A's'ignal'is accordingly sent by the box 18 over the main line, and it is received by the signal-responsive. device 14. This signal being received alone is construed to be a trouble-signal, and suitable precautions may accordingly be taken to-restore the piping system to operative condition. In hke manner should the pressure in' -the pressure tank become unduly reducedthe shunt-circuit is broken between the hand 9 and segment 10 V of the indicator 8 and trouble-signal is sent in. Reduction of the level of the water in the.

kler-headsof the ipe a' go 03, the pressure is.

instantly reduce in, the riser A, and'then as activity commences-v therein and the water,

rushes through the'riser the pressurefis againrestored to approximately normal condition. ,This fluctuatlon of pressure causes the hand 6 to drop away from the segment 7 and .tank 0 causes the ifloat ll to desce'nd, andv then come back into contact with said seglment,.so that it only momentarily breaks the shunt-circuit 27. [Such rupture of the su-bcircuit-trips the box 18; but the restoration of the hand 6 to approximately normal position restores. the shunt-circuit solthat the indicator 8 is able to o crate. The" pressure in the tank B falls s owly as the water is forced therefrom-into the piping system, and

after. a shortlapse of time t and 9 leaves its segment 10 and again breaks the short circuit around the magnet 21. Accordingl y ja second signal is transmitted by the box 18 to should the commencementzof activity in-the sprinkler system be due to-such accidental cause steps would naturall at once be taken to out o the water-supp y system, temporarilybefore the reduction of the supplyin the tank C was commenced. N signal therefore would be sent by box 15. When, however, the blowing of a sprinkler-head is due to fire, the flow of water continuing uninterruptedly, the pressure-tank soon becomes exhausted and the supply in the gravity-tank C is drawn on. This causesa drop of waterlevel in the tank C and through the agency of the float and its lever trips the signal-box 15,

' which transmits its predetermined signal to the supervising-station through the maincircuit. When the shunt 27 29 is broken by the drop of pressure in the pressure-tank, the box 18 is thereby tripped,, but makes only a predetermined number of rounds and then stops. The circuit of box -is now complete through the wires 24 25 and the box 18 through the main circuit. It will therefore be apparent that this sequential series of signals indicating, first, the commencement of activity in the piping, second, the commencement of activity in the pressure-tank B, and, third, the commencement of activity water-tank C, constitutes a practically infallible fire-signal and is so construed by those at the su ervisorystation. To prevent the failure 0 the system through the freezing of the water in the tank C, I provide the thermometer arrangement, and it will be apparent that should the temperature at any t me fall below or rise above limits of. safety the main circuit is broken, and by reasonjof the cessation of current-fiowthrough the signal-receiving instrument 14 notifies the central station of the cause of the trouble.

ciated therewith a' fire or other pump D,

which constitutes a means for supplying the pipe A with water under pressure. Such pumps are sometimes arranged to commence operation automatically upon the reduction of pressure in the pi mg system and in other 5 instances are han -started; but in either event the commencement of activity in the mechanical means for supplying water to the pipe A is subsequent to the reduction of pressure in the pipe. I provide in conjunction with such pump-a means for indicating when its period of activity commences such, for instance, as a governor d, car 'ng at its moving end a lever (1 one end of w ich operates in conjunction with a contact d to form a circuit-breaker and the other end of which is arranged to mechanically trip a signal-box 15. The circuit arrangements of the system is just as in the system above de- 1 scribed, save that the contact (1 and the arm 11 are substituted for the segment 10 and 15. Either one of these devicesthe circuitbreaker d (1 or the box 15might be omitted without making the system inoperative; but both may be provided as a measure of safety, if desired, and. if'both are used the box '15 is preferably timed to act more slowly than the box 18. It will be apparent that in general the operation of m s stem is the same as that heretofore describe a predetermined signal being sent upon the commencement of activity in the riser A and another signal being sent upon the c'ommence ment of activity of the means for supplying water to said pipe. It will of course be understood that by the commencement of activity in the various elements of the fire-extinguisher system I do not desire to be understood as meaning necessarily the first instant of activity, but the earlystages of activity which practice recognizes as the commencement thereof.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that my invention is applicable to fire-extinguisher systems of widely-different types, and it will further be apparent that in its embodiment various forms of apparatus and wiring arrangements might be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a fire-protection system, the combination with an automatic extinguisher system, comprising elements wherein the practituation of the system is sequential, of a .sig-,-

nal system comprising means associated with the said extinguisher-system elements for transmitting distinguishable signals in proper sequence indicative of the practical commencement of activity in said elements, and signal-responsive apparatus suitably connected with the said transmitting means.-

3. In a fire-protection system, the combination with an automatic extinguisher system, comprising elements wherein the practical commencement of activity upon the actuation of the system is sequential, of a signal system comprising means associated with the extinguisher-s stemelements for transmitting distinguis iable signals in proper sequence indicative of the practical commencement of activity in said elements, signal-re sponsive apparatus-at a central station, suitable circuit connections between the signal transmitting and responsive means, and a single source of currentsupply for said circuit connections. t

4. In a fire-protection system, the combination with an automatic extinguisher system,'comprising elements wherein the practical commencement of activity upon the actuation of the system is sequential, of a signal system'comprising means associated with said extinguisher-system elements for trahsmitting signals in proper sequence upon the practical commencement of activity of said elements, signal-responsive apparatus, a source of current-supply and normally closed circuit connections between said devices of the signal system maintaining said devices under constant test. I I

5. In a fire-protection system, the combination with an automatic extinguisher system, comprising elements wherein the practical commencement of activity upon the actuation of the system is sequential, of a signal system comprising means associated with said extinguisher-system elements for transmitting distinguishable signals in proper sequence upon the practical commencement of activity in said elements, signalresponsive apparatus, a source of currentsupply, and normally closed circuit connections between said devices of the signal sys tem maintaining said devices under constant test.

6. In a fire-protection system, the combination with an automatic extinguisher system, comprising elements wherein the practical commencement of activity upon the actuation of the system is sequential, of a central-energy signal system comprising means associated with said extinguisher-system elements for transmitting distinguishable. signals in proper'sequenceupon-the practical commencement of activity in said elements, signal-res onsive apparatus, a source of current-suppy arranged at a central station, and normally closed circuit connections between said devices of the signal system maintaining said devices under constant test.

7. In a fire-protection system, the combination with an extinguisher system, com prising two means of water-supply arranged to become successively active when the system is in full operation, of an alarm system, comprising means associated with each means of supply for indicating substantially the commencement of activity, therein, and means at a supervising-station responsive to v the indicating means, whereby the operation of the extinguisher system occasions the transmlssion of two signalsin predetermined sequence to the supervisorystation, showing the successive commencement of activity in with each means of water-sup ly forindicating by a characteristic signa substantially the commencement of actlvity therein, and means at a supervising-station responslve to the indicating means, whereby the operation of the extinguisher system occasions the transmission of a plurality of distlnguishable signals in predetermined sequence to the commencement of practical activity in the said means of water-supply,

v 8o supervising-station, showing the sequential 9. In a fire-protection system, a piping system wherethrough water flows when the system is active, means'for supplying water to said I piping system, means arranged in conjunction with said piping system for indi cating substantially the commencement of activity therein, means associated with said water-supplying means for indicating sub stantially the commencement of activity therein, and an electric-signal s stem, comprising signaling devices contro led by said indicating means, signal-responsive devices,

means for supplying electric energy, and circuit connections between the said several devices of the electric system.

'10. In a fire-protection system, a piping system wherethrough Water fiows whenthe system is active, means for su plying water a to said piping system arrange and adapted to becomeactive after the commencement of activity of water-flow in the piping system, means arranged in conjunction with each of said devices for indicating the commencement of activity therein, and an electric-signal system comprising signal-transmitting devices operatively associated with said indicating devices to be actuated thereby, signal-responsive devices, means for supplying electrical energy, and circuit connections between the several devices. of the signal system.

11. In a fire-protection system, a piping system wherethrough water flows when the system is active, a primary means for supplying water to said piping system, a secondary means for supplying water to said system 'arranged to become active after the com mencement of activity in the first means, indicating devices associated with each of said water-supplymeans for indicating the commencement of activity therein, and an electrio-signal system comprising signaling de vices operatively assoclated with said'indicating devices to transmit signals upon the actuation of said devices, to indicate the commencement of activity in the supply means with which they are associated, signalresponsive devices, means for supplying electric energy, and circuit connections between said several devices of the electric system.

12. I11 a fire-protection system, a piping system wherethrough water flows when the system is active, a means for supplying water to said piping system, and other means for supplying water to said system, arranged to become practically active after the commencement of activity in the first supply means, and an electric-signal system consisting of means operatively associated with said supply means for indicating by characteristic distinguishable signals the commencement of activity therein, signal-responsive devices, means for supplying electric energy and circuit connections between the several devices in the electric system.

, 13. In a fire-protection system, an extinguishenpiping system wherethrough water flows when the system is active, a pressuretank for supplying water to said piping system, a gravity-tank for supplying water to said system, arranged to become active after the commencement of activity in the pres sure-tank, means associated with each of said supply means for indicating activity therein, and a signal system comprising signal-transmitting devices associated with said indicating means for actuation thereby, a signal-responsive device, means for supplying electric energy, and circuit connections between said several devices.

r 14. In a fire-protection system, an extinguisher-piping system wherethrough water flows when the system is active, and a gravity-tank for supplying water to said system in combination with an electric-alarm system comprising means associated with the piping system and the tank for transmitting distinguishable signals in predetermined sequence upon the practical commencement of activity in the piping system and tank, means responsive to said signals, a source of current supply, and suitable circuit connections be tween the devices of the electric system. a

1.5. In a fire-protection system, an extin guisher-piping system wherethrough water flows when the system is active, and a pressure-tank for supplying water to said system, in combination with an alarm system comprising means associated with the piping system and tank for transmitting distinguishable signals in predetermined sequence upon the practical commencement of activity in the piping system and pressure-tank, means responsive to said signal, a source of currentsupply, and suitable circuit connections between the several devicesiof the electric system.

16. In a fire-protection system, an extinguisher-piping system wherethrough Water fiowswhen the system is active, a gravitytank for supplying water to said system arranged to become practically active after the commencement of activity in the piping system, means associated with said piping system and said tank for indicating the practical commencement of activity in each thereof, a temperature-indicator associated with the gravity-tank, and a signal system comprising signal-transmitting means associated with said indicators for actuation thereby, signalresponsive means, a source of current-supply, and suitable electrical connections with the devices of the signal system including therein the temperature-indicator.

17. In a fire-protection system, an extinguisher-piping system wherethrough water flows when the system is active, a pressuretank for supplying water ,to said piping system, a gravity-tank'for supplying water to saidpiping system arranged to become active after the commencement of activity in the pressure-tank, means associated with each of said means of water-supply for indicating the commencement of activity therein, a temperature-indicator associated with the gravity-tank, and a signal system comprising means associated with each of the activityindicating means for actuation thereby, signal-responsive means, means for supplying electric energy, and circuit connections for the devices of the electric system including therein the temperature-indicator.

18. In a fire-protection system, a piping system wherethrough water flows when the system is active, a primary means for supplying water to said piping system, a secondary means for supplying water to said system arranged to become active after the commencement of activity in the first means, indicating devices associated with each of said watersupply means for indicating the commencement of activity therein, and an electric-signal system comprising signaling devices operatively associated with said indicating devices to transmit distinguishable signals upon the actuation of said devices, to indicate the commencement of activity in the supply means with which they are associated, signal-responsive devices, means for supplying electric energy, and circuit connections between said several devices of the electric system.

19. In a fire-protection system, an extinguisher-piping system wherethrough water flows when the system is active, a pressuretank for supplying water to said piping system, a gravity-tank for supplying water to said system, arranged to become active after the commencement of activity in the pressure-tank, means associated with each of said supply means for indicating activity therein, and a signal system comprising means for mencement of activity in said piping system,

guisher-piping system wherethrough Water transmitting distinguishable si nals, associated with said indicating means or actuation thereby, to transmit signals distinguishing the functionally-active indicator, a signal-re sponsive device, means for supplying electric energy, and circuit'connections between said several devices.

7 20. In a fire-protection system, an extinows when the system is active, a tank for supplying water to said system, arranged to ecome practically active after the commeans associated with saidpiping system 1 commencement of activity in each thereof, a

temperature-indicator associated with said tank, and a si nal system comprising means associated wit said indicators for actuation thereby, signal-responsive means, a source of 20 currentsupply, and suitable electriccircuits.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as, my'own I afiixmy signature in presence of tWo Witnesses. i

JOHN E. SHEPHERD. V In presence of- GEORGE T. I\'IAY, Jr., MARY F. ALLEN. 

